Put to work

When we were planning this trip Jessica was quite admanant that we wouldn't be involved with too much renovation work as most of it had been done. However on arrival we soon learnt that actually there were a few things that we could help with but certainly nothing on the scale that we were involved with last time.

Andrew and Stephen have spent the week ticking off items on his list, (and adding a couple of extras as well). They have patched the concrete path leading to the front door. The drain layers had to cut through it at one stage. And while on a roll with the concrete they dug out a small garden by the garage door that was purely nuisance value and filled it in. Other jobs have included sanding, filling and painting parts of the conservatory. It is a wooden structure that has always had issues with water getting in and Andrew is determined to rectify it. The exterior of the side door entrance is also getting a make over.

 

 

 

 

 

On the other hand Jessica and I have been mostly working indoors. Since we were last here Jessica has taught herself dressmaking and she is keen to learn how to make drapes. I have made many a drape over the years so a lesson or two were the order of the day. She had had drapes made for their own bedroom but is very unhappy with them. They don't sit probably and I think some of the problem is that they seem to sew the lining into side seams whereas in NZ we leave it hanging freely. The tape that has been used is also awful and the pockets the hooks go into have stretched. I am sure we can improve the situation. As these bedroom curtains are a little bit complicated we have made a start on the spare bedroom ones. We purchased the fabric, washed it to account for the 4%shrinkage and the lesson began.

 

 

Cutting the drops and matching proved a challenging task but with careful measuring it got that sorted. With my instruction and pre- pressing hems etc, Jess then did all the sewing. For the linings my preference these days is to have them detachable by using lining tape so this is what we did. They are now hanging in the bedroom we are using and they look great. Next will be the main bedroom ones but this will be after we return from our Scotland jaunt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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